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How Natural Gas Testing and Analysis is Changing Air Quality

Natural gas testing is growing in importance with the introduction of natural gas buses, natural gas locomotives, and initiatives to reduce soot emissions from gas flares at oilfields. To ensure the environment, global emissions and air quality remains at safe levels, testing is necessary. A set of testing and analysis mechanisms have been implemented for each of these technologies. Here is how testing and analysis will help save the environment in these areas.

1. Gas Flaring

Gas flaring requires burning off waste gas. This gas cannot be transported or recovered easily, but must be released to avoid becoming overpressurized. Five percent of global natural gas use is flaring. This amount of gas emissions can create soot that will absorb the sun’s radiation and accelerate the Artic melting. Testing ensures that emissions are reduced.

2. Natural Gas Buses

Edmonton Transit will be testing buses to determine if compressed natural gas will operate in cold winter weather. Natural gas buses purportedly will be 15 percent cheaper than other fuels. Current fuel costs are between $20 million and $30 million annually. These buses also have fewer emissions. Cleaner air is of utmost importance in Canada currently.

3. Natural Gas Locomotives

Canadian National Railway is also running its locomotives on natural gas to lower pollution in the area. Two diesel-electric locomotives are being tested to ensure the locomotives will run better on less-polluting gas. The testing on the vehicles will ensure that the locomotives will perform as they were intended to perform. The trials will last for 300 miles from Edmonton to Fort McMurray. This will significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

How Will Natural Gas Reduce Emissions

Natural gas, when compared with diesel fuel, has lower carbon content. This produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions. The new locomotives use 90 percent natural gas and 10 percent diesel fuel. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 30 percent, and there will be a 70 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions.

There are numerous types of testing and analysis that should be implemented to ensure the natural gas is pure and not contaminating to the air. Other popular testing includes detailed hydrocarbon analysis testing (DHA), driveability index testing, subsurface sampling, hydrocarbon analysis testing, and condensate analysis testing. These are just a few of the tests that will ensure that the environment and air quality is protected.

Continue to follow the news and determine what steps Canada is taking to improve the air quality with new technology in testing and analysis. Encourage the use of this technology to ensure the environment is safe for all people. Soon the air quality will be better and safer for all residents.